General Social Survey, 1972-2012 [Cumulative File] (ICPSR 34802)

The General Social Surveys (GSS) were designed as part of a data diffusion project in 1972. The GSS replicated questionnaire items and wording in order to facilitate time-trend studies. The latest survey, GSS 2012, includes a cumulative file that merges all 29 General Social Surveys into a single file containing data from 1972 to 2012. The items appearing in the surveys are one of three types: Permanent questions that occur on each survey, rotating questions that appear on two out of every three... (more info)

The General Social Surveys (GSS) were designed as part of a data diffusion project in 1972. The GSS replicated questionnaire items and wording in order to facilitate time-trend studies. The latest survey, GSS 2012, includes a cumulative file that merges all 29 General Social Surveys into a single file containing data from 1972 to 2012. The items appearing in the surveys are one of three types: Permanent questions that occur on each survey, rotating questions that appear on two out of every three surveys (1973, 1974, and 1976, or 1973, 1975, and 1976), and a few occasional questions such as split ballot experiments that occur in a single survey. The 2012 surveys included seven topic modules: Jewish identity, generosity, workplace violence, science, skin tone, and modules for experimental and miscellaneous questions. The International Social Survey Program (ISSP) module included in the 2012 survey was gender. The data also contain several variables describing the demographic characteristics of the respondents.

Extent of Processing: ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of
disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major
statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to
these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:

IMMIGRANTS INCREASE CRIME RATES
1445. There are different opinions about immigrants from other
countries living in America. (By "immigrants" we mean people who
come to settle in America.) How much do you agree or disagree
with each of the following statements? a. Immigrants increase
crime rates

HALTING RISING CRIME RATE
68. We are faced with many problems in this country, none of
which can be solved easily or inexpensively. Im going to name
some of these problems, and for each one Id like you to tell me
whether you think were spending too much money on it, too little
money, or about the right amount. e. Halting the rising crime
rate.

REDUCING CRIME -- VERISON Z
70. We are faced with many problems in this country, none of
which can be solved easily or inexpensively. Im going to name
some of these problems, and for each one Id like you to tell me
whether you think were spending too much money on it, too little
money, or about the right amount. e. Reducing crime.

OBLIGATION--REPORTING A CRIME
308. And one last question. We all know that American citizens
have certain rights. For example, they have the right to free
public education and to police protection, the right to attend
religious services of their choice, and the right to elect
public officials. Id like to ask now about certain obligations
that some people feel American citizens owe their country. I
just want your own opinion on these - whether you feel it is a
very important obligation, a somewhat important obligation, or
not an obligation that a citizen owes to the country. d.
Reporting a crime that he or she may have witnessed?

MORE RESTRICTIONS ON HANDGUN DECREASE CRIME
988. Some people argue that more restrictions on handguns would
decrease violent crime by making it harder for criminals to get
handguns. Other people argue that more restrictions on handguns
would increase violent crime by making it harder for law-abiding
citizens to defend themselves with handguns. Which of the
following statements is closer to your own opinion?